Azerbaijani cartography expert denounces Atlas found in Vardanyan’s office As falsified territorial claims

Mugabil Bayramov, chairman of the “Azerbaijan Cartographers” Public Union, has criticized the Nakhchivan Atlas discovered in Ruben Vardanyan’s office in Khankandi.

Bayramov stated that the atlas, published by the Armenian Architecture Foundation in 2012, is based on falsified maps that make unsubstantiated territorial claims against Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Bayramov explained that the atlas asserts Nakhchivan was historically part of Armenian states and principalities. He refuted these claims, pointing out that the atlas’ maps are misleading. Specifically, one map purportedly based on the 2nd-century work “Geography” by Greek scholar Ptolemy, is inaccurate. Bayramov noted that Ptolemy’s original work was lost by the 4th century, and the surviving versions, translated into Latin over a millennium later, contain contradictory information.

The atlas marks Nakhchivan with red lines, further underscoring its attempt to falsely legitimize territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Bayramov condemned the use of cartography for political propaganda and questioned Vardanyan's interest in Nakhchivan. He suggested that the failed aspirations following the Azerbaijani anti-terrorist operation in September 2023 might explain Vardanyan's focus on the region.